Synonyms of sudden

sudden

adjective

ˈsə-dᵊn 

as in unexpected

not expected

the sudden snowstorm resulted in thousands of evening commuters abandoning their cars on impassable highways

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unexpected
• abrupt
• unforeseen
• unanticipated
• unlooked-for
• unlikely
• surprising
• startling
• improbable
• unplanned
• unintended

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• anticipated
• foreseen
• expected
• predicted
• prophesied
• unsurprising

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sudden contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sudden are abrupt, headlong, impetuous, and precipitate. While all these words mean "showing undue haste or unexpectedness," sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action.

flew into a sudden rage

When might abrupt be a better fit than sudden?

Although the words abrupt and sudden have much in common, abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony.

an abrupt refusal

When is it sensible to use headlong instead of sudden?

While in some cases nearly identical to sudden, headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought.

a headlong flight from arrest

When is impetuous a more appropriate choice than sudden?

The meanings of impetuous and sudden largely overlap; however, impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness.

an impetuous lover proposing marriage

Where would precipitate be a reasonable alternative to sudden?

While the synonyms precipitate and sudden are close in meaning, precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action.

the army's precipitate withdrawal

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sudden

All of a sudden, the world was a mirror. —Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025

As if my sudden turn to sedentariness were the result of indolence, not infirmity. —Lucinda Rosenfeld, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025

Active grants have been cruelly rescinded, leaving community theaters, local museums, facing sudden funding gaps and uncertainty over expenses for work already underway. —Andrew Weinstein, Time, 24 Oct. 2025

While this sudden addition is concerning, head coach Ben Johnson is hopeful his starting running back will be able to play on Sunday. —Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025

Phrases Containing sudden

• all of a sudden

Video

'All over sudden' vs. 'All of a sudden'

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